F.E.A.R :wub:

I remember the 'Smooth Criminal' cover from the time and I didn't really like it at the time but I do now.

 

'Side' I remember liking from the time. I agree with you about Kings of Tomorrow - Finally, the later version was better.

Edited August 21, 2024Aug 21 by TheSnake

2001 weeks 37+38

 

'Hey Baby' instantly transports me back to being a kid at a school disco or somewhere like Butlins/Haven :lol: there was no escaping that one. My mind was blown when I eventually came across the Bruce Channel original... not in Dirty Dancing, but on the Frankie & Benny's playlist *_* much preferable, love the harmonica riff.

 

I agree that 'Twentyfourseven' is a step down from previous Artful Dodger singles but I do still quite like it. Meekul sent it to a BJSC spin-off so I discovered it on the forum.

 

I was 4 years old by this point so had recently started school, gaining new interests in the process, but I'm pretty sure my parents did still buy me and my younger brother a copy of 'Mambo No.5', on top of the previous Bob chart topper :lol: the words of that version are burned into my brain more than the original despite it not being on streaming.

 

I'm all over a Halloween playlist but I didn't really get the 'Things That Go Bump In The Night' love for a long time. However, it has slowly crept up on me over time and is a bit of a guilty pleasure now. I agree that the Duran Duran cover is rather pointless though.

 

'Starlight' is my favourite of this batch :wub: love Mani Hoffman's vocals and the groovy house production. The video is a bit cursed though :lol:

Love F.E.A.R a 9/10 easily, and I'm afraid I much prefer Ian Brown's solo career to the Stone Roses, never got the fuss myself, pleasant overall, a couple of good singles - importantly influential, yes, though. Kylie debuted can't Get You Out Of My Head on her fab Light Years tour so I got an early preview of this pulsing dance track, and yes it's a classic 10/10 still. Iconic, and a big hit in the USA at last.

 

Starsailor were great, I usually liked their low-key, melancholy vibes and another 9/10, this is a fab batch of singles! Cosmic Rough Riders dropped to a 4/10 on Pain Inside, and a double helping of Faithless here, oops! Muhammad Ali is a strong 8/10 for me, and the other track from the description I'm guessing is Tiesto with Suburban Train/Urban Train which I didn't chart.

 

Area Codes was a 6/10, not bad for Ludacris, Smooth Criminal was good, 7/10, but not quite up to Michael Jackson's original, though introducing the song to the 21st century was a plus. I always like Travis (see several new tracks this in my personal charts) and Side is no exception, another 9/10. Vicky Becks was pretty good, I thought at the time, though not heard it since so who knows, but I gave it 8/10. Shaggy was a Florida hit with me, Janet Jackson was on the US version and so that's the version I charted in 1999, a firm fun 8/10 and inexplicably not a single in the UK, the Samantha Cole revived Shaggy version was lesser, 6/10.

A lot of Mary J Blige’s stuff doesn’t excite me but “Family Affair” is really a unique record - it’s the way everything fits around that hugely arresting march style beat I think.

 

9 Mary J. Blige Family Affair It's the rhythm assertively set by the violins that makes this so brilliant: a totally inescapable hook and her best record

8 Elton John I Want Love There's a beautiful melancholy to these lyrics about being hardened by painful rejection; one of Elton's finest this century

8 Basement Jaxx Jus 1 Kiss There's a tightness about the production that makes the whole thing feel like a wam hug: a very dreamy and effective track

7 Silicone Soul Right On Only hit for this Scottish house duo and a really strong song well performed: I particularly love the violin post chorus part

7 Erick Sermon Featuring Marvin Gaye Music 1st hit for this US rapper with vocals taken from Marvin's track "I've Got Some Music" to make a soulful and effective duet

6 P Diddy, Black Rob And Mark Curry Bad Boy For Life Possibly a declaration of strength by Diddy's label Bad Boy Records: anyway it's a strong hip hop track with a good hook

6 Garbage Androgyny Their 1st hit in a while with better to come: plenty to enjoy in this track but the chorus is slightly weak lyrically and musically

5 City High What Would You Do? A huge hit for this RnB trio about single parenthood that samples "The Next Episode": interesting track but very of its time

4 Liberty Thinking It Over Debut hit for the band formed from the unsuccessful half of the "Popstars" final 10: a pleasant but ordinary pop garage track

4 Nicole Kidman And Ewan McGregor Come What May A power duet from "Moulin Rouge" and for both actors 1 of their 2 chart hits: not my thing but quite convincing for its genre

3 Stereophonics Step On My Old Size Nines This has elements of a good ballad with the instrumentation and intriguing lyrics, but lacks a chorus and overall is nondescript

2 Steps Chain Reaction It's not a song I have a huge amount of affection for anyway, but it's meant to be sexy and this drab cover feels quite sterile

2 Blink-182 First Date This has a very teenage feel to it which I guess is deliberate, but the song is quite basic and I don't really enjoy any aspect of it

 

 

2001 Week 41:

 

#955 13/10/2001 Bell And Spurling Sven Sven Sven 7 {7}-13-17-26-49-70->6

#956 13/10/2001 Sum 41 Fat Lip 8 {8}-14-18-21-40-56-63-70-75->9

#957 13/10/2001 Jean Jacques Smoothie 2 People 12 {12}-16-23-30-43-66-72->7

#958 13/10/2001 Sarah Connor Featuring TQ Let's Get Back To Bed - Boy! 16 {16}-25-35-48-72->5

#959 13/10/2001 Right Said Fred You're My Mate 18 {18}-22-31-38-56->5

#960 13/10/2001 Ash Candy 20 {20}-34-49->3

#961 13/10/2001 Kurupt It's Over 21 {21}-37-51->3

#962 13/10/2001 Jo Breezer Venus And Mars 27 {27}-56->2

#963 13/10/2001 Girls@Play Respectable 29 {29}-51->2

13/10/2001 Faith Hill Breathe {2001} 36 {36}-62->2

#964 13/10/2001 Talisman P Meets Barrington Levy Here I Come (Sing DJ) 37 {37}-64->2

That Mary J Blige song is certainly catchy and the best song of that bunch imo!

Family Affair is a classic cool 10/10. Mary J is generally fab for me, old-style soul done in a 90's/00's production-style. She's still good, and an actor to boot - she was wonderful as the time-crossing hit-person in The Umbrella Academy. I generally characterise Elton's post-Lion King solo stuff as fairly dull (his collabs can be great though) but I Want Love I agree is an exception, 9/10. Basement Jaxx, didnt chart it, and Silicone Soul is a fabulous dance 10/10 from me (and one of my former BJSC oldies entries). We are firmly now into my clubbing days, Family Affair, Right On at The Magnum in Southampton (RIP) and sounding triff. No Basement Jaxx plays that I recall though...

 

Erick Sermon apparently didn't chrt for me, Marvin Gaye or not, ditto Diddy, but I do love me some Garbage, Androgyny 9/10. City High a good 7/10, ditto Liberty (X), neither of which I've heard much since. Come What May works well in a movie-themed showbar (still a regular in Centre Stage, Playa Del Ingles, GC) and rated a 7/10 at the time, that's prob about right, but with a bacardi n coke it feels more like an 8/10. Step On My Old Size Nines was a miss in Stereophonics up and down discography, one week at 75 on my chart so a lucky 3/10.

 

Chain Reaction was fab. The Diana Ross or Bee Gees versions. Steps was just tacky as per usual with their later covers 4/10. Blink-182 were never really my thing at the best of times, let's call it 2/10 and move on...

 

 

I've fallen behind on this so here's a mass update from me ^_^

 

A few good ‘uns here. “Bootylicious” is a classic. Train are a little MOR but I have a real soft spot for them and “Drops Of Jupiter” is such a heartwarming track. But at the top I’m putting this new discovery by Cosmic Rough Riders. The lyrics have some similarities with the Beatles track, and it’s just a really fabulous piece of music.

 

9 Cosmic Rough Riders Revolution (In The Summertime) 1st hit for the Scottish band: this never received the attention it deserved as it's a beautifully written song with special lyrics

8 Train Drops Of Jupiter (Tell Me) 1st hit for this US band from their 2nd album: I find this very beautiful lyrically and musically it has a real warmth and charm

8 Destiny's Child Bootylicious Their 5th hit of the century and they're all great: while not a personal favourite this might be the most culturally significant

8 Turin Brakes Mind Over Money Slightly bigger than "Underdog" and an excellent follow up, with the bleak piano chords and the expressive undulating vocal

7 Mauro Picotto Like This Like That He is always good value and this is another thumping anthemic club track led by a very captivating and smooth synth melody

7 Depeche Mode I Feel Loved Quite similar in style to "Dream On" with the gently bubbling track behind big booming emotive vocals: it's a very fine track

7 Cosmic Gate Fire Wire The 1st Top 40s for "cosmic" acts arriving together: a really strong and stark instrumental trance track from this German duo

6 R.E.M. All The Way To Reno An understated track without the immediacy of "Imitation Of Life", but with an excellent bassline and very strong production

6 Catatonia Stone By Stone The only post '99 hit for the Welsh band: a spirited performance from Cerys and a nice song; the chorus could be stronger

5 Janet Jackson Someone To Call My Lover Another use of the "Gymnopédie" melody: I like the punchy chorus and it has her usual sweet style but doesn't stand out

5 Tweenies Do The Lollipop There's a limit to how enjoyable this can be with the child orientated vocals, but actually it's a really funky retro style track

4 Gypsymen Babarabatiri A 1982 hit by Beny Moré and Perez Prado turned into a club hit here by Todd Terry: not much originality but a great tune

4 Geri Halliwell Scream If You Wanna Go Faster After 5 Top 2s this reaching #8 must have been a surprise, especially as it's not a bad track but the vocals need more power

3 Crazy Town Revolving Door Their 2nd and last Top 40: whereas "Butterfly" has an infectious pulsating rhythm this feels like it can't quite get into gear

3 Jaheim Just In Case His 2nd hit and this has some more energy and soul to it than the 1st but it's still far too lacking in oomph to be memorable

2 Shortie Vs Black Legend Somebody Only hit for this DJ sampling "Dr Love" by First Choice: has the tinny Black Legend sound but the track doesn't do very much

2 Atomic Kitten Eternal Flame 904th #1: a Bangles cover capitalising on their newfound superstar status; unfortunately it doesn't really have any character

1 O-Town All Or Nothing A Boyz II Men style track here: the rhyming of "all" with "all" irrationally annoys me: aside from that it's overblown and turgid

 

 

I don't recall your favourite at all - but have just taken a listen and it sounds nice enough, would be in the top half of my ranking this week. Top spot for me would probably go to Destiny's Child, I'd say it's a 7.5/10 kind of song but it's another strong single from them. Similar score for I Feel Loved, which is quite low for a second single for a Depeche Mode album... I wasn't the biggest fan of the songs on Exciter after the lead single. Janet Jackson would be my other choice on a similar 7.5/10 level, it's a really fun and summery song that I think is pretty much the last of her strong singles. Very glad you didn't rate Atomic Kitten highly! :lol:

 

 

 

I love the top half of this group but the magical “Destiny” has to come top.

 

9 Zero 7 Destiny Only Top 40 for this duo featuring young Sia: the production is like a big warm hug and it's such a tender and beautiful song

8 So Solid Crew 21 Seconds 905th #1: influential debut hit for this big Battersea collective and an exciting track with a unique and diverse energy

8 Bjork Hidden Place Her highest peaking post 2000 hit: a wonderful track with an incredible intimacy, like she's sharing her darkest secret

7 Jennifer Lopez Ain't It Funny A straightforward pop song but an excellent one with a lovely flow to the melody and an effective Latin American flavour

7 Radiohead Knives Out Judging this as a single it's not an essential Radiohead release but it's still a marvellous track with a great build up of tension

6 Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott Featuring Ludacris One Minute Man The follow up to "Get Ur Freak On" doesn't have the impact of that, but is a strong and sultry RnB track and gently hypnotic

5 Cygnus X Superstring Only Top 40 for this German trance group thanks to a Rank 1 remix and you can hear "Airwave" similarities: a decent track

4 Honeyz I Don't Know Last one for them: a rather sweet tune and certainly better than their previous, but not a huge amount to it and not a big hit

4 Tall Paul Vs INXS Precious Heart - Tall Paul/Riva/Lush/Marc O'Tool Mixes A hit for DJ Paul Newman with a remix of "Never Tear Is Apart" by INXS: works quite well but I'd rather hear the original

3 M.O.P. Featuring Busta Rhymes Ante Up 2nd and final hit for them with Busta's help: not too bad but with that yelling rap style happily left in the early 00s again

2 Raven Maize The Real Life Same DJ as Joey Negro: this samples "Bohemian Rhapsody" and Simple Minds "Theme From Great Cities" and is quite bizarre

 

 

Definitely the correct choice this week, Destiny is a 10/10 stand out of the chill out era for me. Sia sounds amazing on it, even though I didn't realise it was her at the time. The accompanying album was also really strong and is up there with Moon Safari as a classic of that sort of sound. Björk was still in her untouchable phase and Vespertine was one of her strongest albums, Hidden Place was the first track on the album and a lovely single worth a great 9/10 - although I liked Pagan Poetry even more still. Radiohead topped my chart as I was still stanning them at this point, in retrospect it's nowhere near as good as Destiny but it's still a decent song... maybe an 8/10 is about fair. Cygnus X was decent but nowhere near as strong as The Orange Theme (which I'm amazed didn't make the top 40 given it was a big club hit) but it is a strong enough trance song. Ain't it Funny was okay enough but not really a fan of anything else this week.

 

 

A big group here with plenty of strong tracks, but it’s New Order’s spectacular comeback that takes the top spot.

 

9 New Order Crystal Their first original single in 8 years and a delightfully gritty number with big production that is said to have inspired The Killers

8 Nelly Furtado Turn Off The Light This stands out as one of the quirkiest pop songs of the decade: I love the scatting and folk vibe to it and the vulnerable lyrics

8 Jamiroquai Little L The lead single from "A Funk Odyssey" and it's a funk masterclass: an effortless yet compelling track beautifully performed

8 Eve Featuring Gwen Stefani Let Me Blow Ya Mind A very successful duet addressed to Eve's critics with a memorable riff, a slow punchy chorus and well crafted hip hop verses

7 Kosheen Hide U Originally missed the Top 40 but this remix with the rhythmic pulsing production creates a captivating hit for the UK group

7 Muse Bliss The least brilliant of their 6 hits to date but still great, with the familiar shimmering piano and hard hitting long vocal phrases

7 Five Let's Dance 906th #1: the rapped parts work well, the autotune gives it a slightly robotic house feel and overall it's a strong funky track

6 Manchild Nothing Without Me Only Top 40 for this DJ act and it seems a very forgotten house hit, but I really enjoy the scraping violins and distorted vocal

6 Sophie Ellis-Bextor Take Me Home - Mutiny/Graeme Park And Paul Birchall Mixes Her debut solo hit: she sounds great on it and it's a really warm and comforting track but which lacks a really strong hook

6 Anastacia Made For Lovin' You Used in a Honda advert, this is my 2nd favourite of the 4 "Not That Kind" singles and a well performed soulful pop number

5 Slusnik Luna Sun Only hit for this Finnish DJ duo: I don't need the full 10 minutes but where the sun's rays break through it's very effective

5 Groove Armada Superstylin' Highest peak to date for this UK electronic duo with a reggae house style number: it's very decent but not that memorable

5 De Nada Love You Anyway Debut single for this UK garage group; I like the juxtaposition between the sung melody and the rap; quite an enjoyable track

4 Shade Sheist/Nate Dogg/Kurupt Where I Wanna Be Only hit for this US rapper: a fairly pleasant laid back track about smoking in the sunshine, but it feels rather inconsequential

4 Embrace Wonder Lead single from their 3rd album "If You've Never Been": it's sweet and heartfelt but also a little plodding and predictable

3 Little Trees Help I'm A Fish Only hit for this Danish girl group for an animated film of the same name: cute and catchy but doesn't bear too many listens

3 Dante Thomas Featuring Pras Miss California Only hit for this US RnB singer: it's quite a catchy melody but for me delivered in a rather formulaic and uninspiring way

2 Tymes 4 Bodyrock Another UK garage pop girl group: think they're better than the material as the lyrics are full of clichés but it's well performed

2 Supersister Shopping Their 2nd and last Top 40 hit: it's hard to pin down why I love "Coffee" but find this similar 80s pop style effort rather naff

 

Excellent top six this week! :wub: I'd also add Groove Armada and Sophie to make eight really strong songs in this bunch. Bliss is one of my favourite Muse tracks and was the first of theirs to top my chart (I think) but even that is beaten by Crystal and Turn Off The Light - both of those are 10/10s for me with Ms Furtado delivering one of the best pop songs of the year imo - so yet again you've chosen the correct ones! A mention for Five as well as that was an okay boyband song but up against some very strong tracks this week.

 

 

All in all a rather lacklustre group here; thank goodness for The Charlatans.

 

8 The Charlatans Love Is The Key The lead single from their 7th album and their final Top 20 hit: a cracking track with a pounding rhythmic urgency to it

7 Weekend Players 21st Century Only Top 40 for this duo including Andy from Groove Armada: I find the production transfixing and it's a soothing track

7 Freefall Featuring Jan Johnston Skydive (I Feel Wonderful) Not to be confused with "Skydive", a different song which missed the Top 40, this is a euphoric and well sung trance track

6 Lowgold Beauty Dies Young {2001} Only Top 40 for this UK band, scraping in after several misses, and a good track with a strong wall of guitars type of sound

5 Lifehouse Hanging By A Moment Debut single for this US band and much bigger over there: it's a decent and soulful soft rock song but nothing too exciting

5 Foxy Brown Oh Yeah Only hit this century for the US rapper which includes an 80s sample: this has a nice ragga feel but is quite raw sounding

5 American Hi-Fi Flavor Of The Weak Only hit for this US band which reminds me of "You Said No" by Busted: it's a pleasant but unremarkable track in any case

4 Blue Too Close 907th #1: the strength of "All Rise" set up the success of this, and there's a soulfulness to it but the melody is fairly dull

4 Emma Bunton Take My Breath Away This was the winner of a vote by her fans on what should be the 2nd single: it's sweet and pleasant but not very interesting

3 112 Peaches And Cream Last hit for them: this isn't particularly bad but it's very standard pop RnB of the time and doesn't have much effect on me

3 3LW Playas Gon' Play Their 2nd and final Top 40: this is another beige pop RnB style track that sounds very early '00s and doesn't showcase them

2 Uncle Kracker Follow Me Only hit for this US singer: a clever tune but not a sophisticated or well aged piece of music and the lyrics are slightly creepy

2 Louise Stuck In The Middle I tend to give short shrift to covers like this that really are just trying to sound as much like the original song as possible

2 DJ Luck And MC Neat Featuring Ari Gold I'm All About You Last of their 5 Top 20 hits and it seems like they've run out of ideas as this is terribly bland and missing the garage edginess

 

 

Skydive is my favourite of this bunch. I had a dance compilation that I loved back at the time that featured that (I can't remember what it was at all right now but the mix that had that on it was superb so I was already on board with it before it was released. The rest tbh are all kinda bland, looks like everyone released the good stuff the week before instead!

 

 

We’ve ended up with my biggest group yet of 22 including 2 double As, thanks to my rule of combining any weeks with less than 10 with a neighbouring week. A mostly really good and varied bunch: “Starlight” is an old favourite but “Souljacker Part 1” was a new and brilliant discovery for me.

 

9 Eels Souljacker Part 1 Their last Top 40: in contrast with the last, "Mr E's Beautiful Blues", this is a wonderfully gritty and infectious rock number

9 The Supermen Lovers Featuring Mani Hoffman Starlight The Supermen Lovers is a French solo act here with his only hit, teaming up with Mani to produce a great unique house track

8 The Chemical Brothers It Began In Afrika "Afrika-ka-ka-ka": this is the lead from their 4th album and a great track with an African beat and other interesting themes

8 Fatboy Slim A Song For Shelter/Ya Mama A very strong double A side: "Ya Mama" is a typical Norman style track but the other has an arresting stream of consciousness

8 Barthezz On The Move 1st of 2 hits for this Dutch DJ: an excellent trance track with a stonking tune and energy that does create a feeling of motion

7 Dido Hunter The 3rd smaller hit from "No Angel": I've always loved this track and how she puts the relatable story across so effectively

7 Manic Street Preachers Let Robeson Sing A tribute to Black American activist Paul Robeson and the 4th single from "Know Your Enemy": a sweet and very tuneful track

7 Ed Case And Sweetie Irie Who 2nd and last hit for the garage DJ who remixed "Clint Eastwood": a raw track with raucous vocals but catchy and effective

6 Staind It's Been Awhile Their debut hit from the #1 album "Break The Cycle": it's a good and emotionally charged song without being extraordinary

6 Redman Featuring Adam F Smash Sumthin' Samples the "Romeo And Juliet” theme: quite an aggressive track and I wouldn't want to meet them in a dark alley, but good

6 Darude Out Of Control (Back For More) 3rd and last hit for him and unlike the others this is sung throughout: it's a powerful and intense melody but nothing unique

5 Nelly And St Lunatics Batter Up A contrast beteeen the very radio friendly "Ride Wit Me" and this much more hard edged dose of RnB, but I quite like this

5 allSTARS* Things That Go Bump In The Night/Is There Something I Should Know? The Duran Duran cover is quite bland and a 3 but the 1st side is a good 7: a really inspired and fun Halloween themed track

5 Samantha Mumba Baby Come On Over Another successful hit for her that's very catchy and well produced and where she sounds great, but it's also terribly basic

4 Maxwell D Serious Only hit for this UK garage performer: this has a reggae flavour to it and it's slightly headache inducing but has a good beat

4 Marilyn Manson The Nobodies A lyrically very heavy going song about the Columbine shooting from the attackers' point of view: musically it's not bad

4 Bob The Builder Mambo No 5 908th #1: 2nd and last hit for Bob and not as enjoyable as the 1st but quite a clever reimagination of the Lou Bega song

3 Artful Dodger Featuring Melanie Blatt Twenty Four Seven The 1st solo appearance for Mel teaming up with the hitmaking duo: a run of the mill garage track and their weakest so far

3 Macy Gray Featuring Erykah Badu Sweet Baby The lead single from her 2nd album: the performance has her usual endearing quality but the song itself is sadly quite dull

2 Lil' Kim Featuring Phil Collins In The Air Tonite A rather curious cover of the Phil Collins song: her own parts of the track aren't bad but it takes all the drama out of Phil's

2 DJ Otzi Hey Baby 909th #1: a huge long running hit for this Austrian performer with a rather obnoxious version of the 60s Bruce Chanel hit

1 Spiritualized Stop Your Crying Highest peaking hit for this UK rock band: I find this incredibly boring and repetitive yet it's obviously trying to be anthemic

 

Interesting choice of last place, I can't really remember it right now but Spiritualized were generally really well regarded. I've taken a listen and I can see why you found it boring though to be fair... sticking towards the bottom and I'll highlight Macy Grey & Erykah Badu - it took a while to grow on me but I think this is Macy's second best song now, it's quite an ear worm once it has been allowed to burrow its way in to your head. Again I think you've probably got pretty much the correct top 6 this week, I'd have most of those at around 8/10 with probably Supermen Lovers edging it at the top but Barthezz is very close to it for me, another big club trance track there.

 

 

Anyone who doesn’t know “F.E.A.R.” should give it a listen as it’s stunningly beautiful. I don’t think The Stone Roses ever did anything so reflective and poetic.

 

9 Ian Brown F.E.A.R. Lead from his 3rd album and a stunning, enchanting track with echoing vocals, cryptic lyrics and gorgeous backing strings

8 Kylie Minogue Can't Get You Out Of My Head 910th #1:an very simple but incredibly clever and effective song about obsession that loops around like it's stuck in a rut

8 Starsailor Alcoholic Their highest peaking and best single: they can be pedestrian but this works beautifully with the floaty chorus and piano

7 Cosmic Rough Riders The Pain Inside This doesn't blow me away quite like "Revolution", but it's a very lovely folk rock style track with beautiful rich harmonies

7 Faithless Muhammad Ali 1st Top 40 for this Dutch DJ who will have a long career: a lovely twinkly track with Kirsty Hawkshaw's ethereal vocals

6 Faithless Muhammad Ali A minor hit but I really admire how different it is from "We Come 1": a trip hop stream of consciousness and soulful chorus

6 Ludacris Featuring Nate Dogg Area Codes This is fun and I like it when he recites all the random codes, but doesn't have the manic energy of "What's Your Fantasy"

6 The Future Sound Of London Papua New Guinea 2001 A remix by DJ Satoshi Tomiie: the original is sublime and I much prefer it overall, but this has an interesting throbbing beat

5 Kings Of Tomorrow Featuring Julie McKnight Finally {2001 Re-Release} Only Top 40 for this DJ duo: this is decent but unremarkable and will be turned into something magical in a couple of years

5 Alien Ant Farm Smooth Criminal 1st Top 40 for this US rock band: the cover does work well and the vocals sound good, but there isn't any real originality

4 Travis Side This follow up to "Sing" is pleasant enough but whereas that had the pulsing banjos this has little to make it really interesting

4 Victoria Beckham Not Such An Innocent Girl Her 1st fully solo hit and much was made of the battle with Kylie who outsold her by a factor of 10; this is very ordinary

3 Shaggy Luv Me Luv Me Orignallt recorded with Janet Jackson, both the chorus and production of this sample old hits so there isn't much creativity

 

Kylie and Ian Brown are the best two this week I agree, they're both excellent and would be challenging for a 10 from me. Just below them would be Faithless for me, at the time it completely passed me by but I listened to a lot more Faithless albums after Maxi Jazz sadly passed away and I listened to the lyrics of this one for the first time. It's a really good story about how as a kid he only really had the likes of Muhammad Ali to look up to when he was looking for black people in the media that were championed - I found it to be quite an emotional listen when I heard it. The only other one I'd highlight is Alien Ant Farm, it's a really solid cover version imo that against all odds managed to make a really good cover of such a recognisable song.

 

 

A lot of Mary J Blige’s stuff doesn’t excite me but “Family Affair” is really a unique record - it’s the way everything fits around that hugely arresting march style beat I think.

 

9 Mary J. Blige Family Affair It's the rhythm assertively set by the violins that makes this so brilliant: a totally inescapable hook and her best record

8 Elton John I Want Love There's a beautiful melancholy to these lyrics about being hardened by painful rejection; one of Elton's finest this century

8 Basement Jaxx Jus 1 Kiss There's a tightness about the production that makes the whole thing feel like a wam hug: a very dreamy and effective track

7 Silicone Soul Right On Only hit for this Scottish house duo and a really strong song well performed: I particularly love the violin post chorus part

7 Erick Sermon Featuring Marvin Gaye Music 1st hit for this US rapper with vocals taken from Marvin's track "I've Got Some Music" to make a soulful and effective duet

6 P Diddy, Black Rob And Mark Curry Bad Boy For Life Possibly a declaration of strength by Diddy's label Bad Boy Records: anyway it's a strong hip hop track with a good hook

6 Garbage Androgyny Their 1st hit in a while with better to come: plenty to enjoy in this track but the chorus is slightly weak lyrically and musically

5 City High What Would You Do? A huge hit for this RnB trio about single parenthood that samples "The Next Episode": interesting track but very of its time

4 Liberty Thinking It Over Debut hit for the band formed from the unsuccessful half of the "Popstars" final 10: a pleasant but ordinary pop garage track

4 Nicole Kidman And Ewan McGregor Come What May A power duet from "Moulin Rouge" and for both actors 1 of their 2 chart hits: not my thing but quite convincing for its genre

3 Stereophonics Step On My Old Size Nines This has elements of a good ballad with the instrumentation and intriguing lyrics, but lacks a chorus and overall is nondescript

2 Steps Chain Reaction It's not a song I have a huge amount of affection for anyway, but it's meant to be sexy and this drab cover feels quite sterile

2 Blink-182 First Date This has a very teenage feel to it which I guess is deliberate, but the song is quite basic and I don't really enjoy any aspect of it

 

...and I've caught up! Definitely the correct top two here with Family Affair a total 10/10 classic, head and shoulders above anything else she released imo and one of the best R&B/Soul songs of the decade. Elton was great too though, the first single from what turned out to be a really strong album - I don't really ever listen to Elton John but this album is genuinely one of the best of the year, it's worth a listen if you've never heard it - I think Original Sin and Mansfield were my favourites on it but pretty much every track is good. Garbage I really liked at the time, but in retrospect the production isn't amazing - the album was still very decent if not quite the classic that their first two were. I'm not hugely fond of anything else on the list this time, Basement Jaxx is fine but not among their best singles.

 

 

Nothing to get too excited about here but l I do think Ash had an exceptionally strong run of singles from “Free All Angels”, and they’re all very different in character too.

 

8 Ash Candy The 4th excellent single from "Free All Angels": this has the feel of a delicate ice sculpture to me with the violin production

7 Jean Jacques Smoothie 2 People Actually a UK DJ called Steve Robson with his only hit featuring Minnie Ripperton: it's a lovely and very sensual house track

7 Sarah Connor Featuring TQ Let's Get Back To Bed - Boy! 1st hit for this German singer: mostly a pop track with a little help from rapper TQ, but I think it's a bold and well done song

6 Talisman P Meets Barrington Levy Here I Come (Sing DJ) Only hit for this DJ reworking reggae singer's #41 hit "Here I Come" as a dance track: an energetic re-make that works well

6 Sum 41 Fat Lip 1st hit for this Canadian rock band active since 1996: nothing out of the ordinary but a very enjoyable radio friendly track

5 Kurupt Candy Only solo hit for this US rapper: a decent track with a chorus that's quite catchy but doesn't have the greatest replay value

4 Bell And Spurling Sven Sven Sven 1st of 2 novelty hits for this duo about the then England football manager: quite silly but nicely sung with good harmonies

3 Jo Breezer Venus And Mars Only hit for this UK singer: she sounds sweet but it's on the bland side sadly and the lyrics are more clichéd than inspired

2 Right Said Fred You're My Mate Their only post '90s hit and impressive they can still get one but this is pedestrian and has little to it lyrically and musically

2 Girls@Play Respectable "Airhead" was a bit of fun and different: there's not a lot to say about this pointless cover and they won't have any more hits

 

 

2001 Week 42:

 

#965 20/10/2001 Michael Jackson You Rock My World 2 {2}-6-8-16-24-32-47-58-70-66-57-53-44-34-70-60R(389)->16

#966 20/10/2001 Usher U Got It Bad 5 {5}-8-11-20-30-36-53-70->8

#967 20/10/2001 The Ones Flawless 7 {7}-12-15-25-34-34-48-60-68-74R(2)-70-71->12

#968 20/10/2001 Linkin Park In The End 8 {8}-13-13-23-28-31-42-61-73->9

#969 20/10/2001 The Streets Has It Come To This? 18 {18}-32-45-67-55R(3)->5

#970 20/10/2001 Pulp The Trees/Sunrise 23 {23}-58->2

#971 20/10/2001 Super Furry Animals Drawing Rings Around The World 28 {28}-72->2

#972 20/10/2001 India.Arie Brown Skin 29 {29}-52->2

#973 20/10/2001 Sugar Ray When It's Over 32 {32}-67->2

#974 20/10/2001 Sunscreem Vs Push Please Save Me 36 {36}-70->2

#975 20/10/2001 UB40 Featuring Lady Saw Since I Met You Lady/Sparkle Of My Eyes 40 {40}-63->2

Candy is far and away my favourite Ash track, 9/10. Most of their stuff I like but this is the only one I love. 2 People got a 5/10 from me, but I don't recall it, I'd guess having Minnie Ripperton on it didn't hurt! Sarah Connor was a firm 6/10 and one I do remember. Talisman P did even better with a 7/10, and reggae acts I usually like, so nice to see Barrington get some success.

 

Fat Lip was lucky to get 3/10 from me, Sum 41 never made my top 40 and had only 4 that charted, so not really a fan you might say. Kurupt impressed me not at all, Bell & Spurling grabbed a mildly amusing 3/10, Venus & Mars was an 8/10, I have an inbuilt bias towards anything astronomy-related, big interest for me (note not astrology, reality only not made-up fantasy stuff, sorry!). Wings could have charted with that song title, but Jo Breezer actually did. See my current number one, Saturn, and previous songs include Mercury, Jupiter, Earth, but still waiting for Neptune and I expect I will never see anyone singing about Uranus :teresa: cue schoolboy snigger.

 

Right Said Fred, a 3/10 at best, and Girls@play never charted for me. So Ash, clear winner Venus & Mars runner-up.

 

 

 

 

Sven :cry:, that song is pretty good and funny apart from the too loud commentator shouting.

 

and the first line about the haircut :puke:

Edited August 26, 2024Aug 26 by TheSnake

2001 week 39:

 

I have a lot of nostalgia for the Alien Ant Farm version of 'Smooth Criminal' as it was another song that was used in my year 6 leavers' assembly. I'm pretty sure I knew this cover before the Michael Jackson original! I would say I prefer the original nowadays but do find both enjoyable in their own way.

 

I am familiar with 'Love Story (vs. Finally)' but had never heard the original 'Finally' until today :o I do agree that the mash-up is better, although the original 'Love Story' is my favourite of any of these songs. I think it passed me by that Jess Glynne's 'All I Am' sampled 'Finally' as well, can hear that in the production.

 

Also, I'm pretty sure today is the first time I've heard 'Area Codes' in full as well, after previously just knowing the "I've got hoes in different area codes" part from internet memes :lol: Shakespeare has been awfully quiet since the "hip-hop hoe-llercoaster" lyric.

 

'Can't Get You Out of My Head' is my #1 from this batch and one of my favourite songs of the whole year :wub: :wub: it is so hypnotic and I appreciate the dark edge, with those pulsating synths and the obsessive themes. The music video is a perfect fit too with the cold, robotic dancing... wonderful, memorable package from her.

Sven :cry:, that song is pretty good and funny apart from the too loud commentator shouting.

 

and the first line about the haircut :puke:

That too loud commentator would be Jonathan Pearce, who was the commentator for Robot Wars and still commentates for the BBC today.

 

 

I gather you intended to put "DJ Tiesto Urban Train" against "1st Top 40 for this Dutch DJ who will have a long career: a lovely twinkly track with Kirsty Hawkshaw's ethereal vocals" rather than "Faithless Muhammad Ali".

 

I find it amusing that Kirsty Hawkshaw left Opus III because she thought they were becoming too commercial, then she collaborates with Tiesto who is as commercial as it gets when it comes to dance music.

I gather you intended to put "DJ Tiesto Urban Train" against "1st Top 40 for this Dutch DJ who will have a long career: a lovely twinkly track with Kirsty Hawkshaw's ethereal vocals" rather than "Faithless Muhammad Ali".

Fixed thanks!

I find it amusing that Kirsty Hawkshaw left Opus III because she thought they were becoming too commercial, then she collaborates with Tiesto who is as commercial as it gets when it comes to dance music.

 

I don't think Tiesto's music was that commercial in 2001, its sensible deep trance.

Edited August 27, 2024Aug 27 by TheSnake

A great group here - brilliant top half and I enjoy almost all of them to some extent, plus it’s the 3rd 10 score of the year!

 

10 Linkin Park In The End The 4th and highest peaking "Hybrid Theory" single: an exquisite heartbreaking rap metal number and the best of its kind

9 The Ones Flawless Only Top 40 for this electronic trio: the production is as the title suggests and the robotic vocals complement it beautifully

8 Super Furry Animals Drawing Rings Around The World The album title track and a gorgeous number with retro ELO style production: the rings referred to are about pollution

8 Pulp The Trees/Sunrise Their 1st hit for 3 years: "Sunrise" is very evocative with a big instrumental section and "The Trees" sweet and endearing

7 The Streets Has It Come To This? Debut single for Mike Skinner that took garage in a new direction: it's a strong statement and has a really nice sound world

6 India.Arie Brown Skin Her 2nd and final Top 40: this is a lovely and sensual song, and well regarded I know, but I somehow can't get too excited

6 Sunscreem Vs Push Please Save Me Last of 8 Top 40s for Sunscreem based on "Who Will Love Me Now?" by PJ Harvey, which works well as a dance track

5 Sugar Ray When It's Over 2nd and last Top 40 for this US rock band: nothing too special but a cute and catchy tune in a more poppy Blink-182 style

5 Usher U Got It Bad His 3rd US #1 and I think it's more geared to that market but a soulful RnB ballad that captures the mood of the lyrics well

4 Michael Jackson You Rock My World His 1st hit for 4 years: I really like the production to this, which saves what is otherwise a fairly limp and tuneless comeback

3 UB40 Featuring Lady Saw Since I Met You Lady/Sparkle Of My Eyes Their 1st Top 40 in a while with a double A cover of old reggae songs: nothing too interesting but a pleasant enough listen

 

 

 

2001 Week 43:

 

#976 27/10/2001 Afroman Because I Got High 1 {1}-1-1-2-4-8-14-19-26-18-15-27-42-49-64-63R(2)-60-62-63->19

#977 27/10/2001 Britney Spears I'm A Slave 4 U 4 {4}-7-12-20-23-36-44-57-51-48-48-49-59-72->14

#978 27/10/2001 Mis-Teeq One Night Stand 5 {5}-6-10-16-20-32-40-51-56-61-60-66->12

#979 27/10/2001 Wideboys Featuring Dennis G Sambuca 15 {15}-24-31-43-56-74->6

#980 27/10/2001 Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes The Block Party 16 {16}-29-46-73->4

#981 27/10/2001 Brian Harvey And The Refugee Crew Loving You (Ole Ole Ole) 20 {20}-40-58->3

#982 27/10/2001 Jay-Z Izzo (H.O.V.A.) 21 {21}-35-50-75->4

#983 27/10/2001 Jagged Edge Where The Party At 25 {25}-41-70->3

#984 27/10/2001 K2 Family Bouncing Flow 27 {27}-46-74->3

#985 27/10/2001 A*Teens Halfway Around The World 30 {30}-49->2

#986 27/10/2001 Genius Cru Course Bruv 39 {39}-58->2

2001 week 40:

 

Back to snapping with your top pick now as I adore 'Family Affair' :wub: love the euphoric lyrics (hateration, holleration and all x) and some of Dr Dre's finest production work.

 

I quite like 'Jus 1 Kiss' and 'Thinking It Over' too. I remember reading that the latter was released on white label to trick people into playing it as Popstars was getting bad press by now. That was a pretty smart move :lol: garage was an interesting antidote to Hear'Say's chosen direction, although they had better to come.

In The End a 9/10 for me, have to be in the right mood for it though, Linkin Park can be downbeat at the best of times. Flawless I gave an 8/10 at the time, but it's a 9/10, the George Michael sample convinced me of that. Super Furry Animals a good 7/10, and the Pulp double I split into different chart runs so can accurately rate The Trees as a 6/10 and Sunrise as a 5/10 and admit I havent heard either of them in over 22 years.

 

Didn't chart The Streets and dont recall it and ditto Sunscreen, but India.Irie was another 9/10 for me. Great record, as was the great US radio hit from Sugar Ray, it almost topped my chart and had a long run after (of course) hearing it on holiday so it's just short of a 10/10 and record of the batch. U Got It Bad? Well, almost: 3/10.

 

Michael Jackson didn't exactly rock my world, but it was an 80's retro-sounding decent pop track, and a 9/10, possibly over-rated it a bit though for old-times sake. UB40 always tickle my taste buds and a good Lady Saw 7/10.

In The End is an epic, How Has It Come To This and the rest of the Streets debut with its video and album cover really makes you think you are living in a estate or tower block in London, gritty!

 

The Ones - Flawless is good, but the George Michael version is better imo.

Edited August 29, 2024Aug 29 by TheSnake